MOSCOW, April 13 (RAPSI) – Investigators have launched a large-scale corruption case against former head of Russia’s Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov, lawyer Lyudmila Aivar told RAPSI on Thursday.

According to the Investigative Committee, the probe was opened into Markelov and other persons in relation to alleged reception of bribes, giving a bribe and mediation in bribery. Investigators believe that Markelov has received a 235 million ruble (about $4.1 million) bribe from the head of Akashevskaya factory Nikolay Krivash for patronage and assistance in the property payment of funds provided by state support for development of the agricultural complex.

The lawyer said that Markelov is currently arrested and, according to investigation documents, the alleged bribe reaches nearly 250 million rubles (about $4.3 million).

On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted voluntary resignation of Markelov, who was governing the region for 16 years.